"We may have left the fold, but we have not forgotten our responsibilities."
The Story of the Crow
It was not so long ago that the House of the Sun was a mere cult. It was not so long ago that the House of the Crow was the closest to the Sun's glory. But things change. People forget their truths and nations forget their roots. Time moves in cycles. The world moves as directed by the Great Spirits. We serve those spirits, and thusly we obey the cycles of time and movements of the earth.
The council spoke two generations ago. They sought a path of righteousness. They forgot that righteousness is a corrupting influence on the souls of men. They forgot all light casts a shadow. They were blinded by the Sun. We have followed their will. We took our leave of them, gratefully. They bask now in the light of the Sun. They are burned without the shadow cast by Crow's wings.
They took our ancestral lands and gifted them to the cult. The House of the Sun was elevated to the Council of Elders. They were given titles and authority.
But there are those who saw the mistake, even as they made it. Beneath the moon, they asked us to seclude ourselves in the mountains and bogs. The Owl, with its wisdom and foresight, saw fit to grant us lands and safety. They are our shelter. They are our connection to Elvoya. They are our kin now.
Rumors of the Crow
Many Crow believe that their people, those of dark complexion and small stature, were in Elvoya before the coming of the fairer skinned southerners hundreds of generations ago. This may be fact, but other than the Crow and many Salmon, the two "tribes" of men have so intermingled that the distinction is useless.
The Crow have always been seen as keepers of secrets, and they were always given latitude to study things otherwise deemed unwise or dangerous. This because the other Houses feared them.
The Crow have embedded themselves in all walks of life, even after being exiled and removed from their stations as nobility. They may have even managed to marry into other houses.
The Crow's Purpose
We have forsaken politics and authority for study and secret power. We have continued our study of the Great Spirits. Our knowledge has increased greatly without the distractions of the Council. Our secret knowledge has flourished while we have pushed the boundaries of Truth.
We have answered what the other houses have feared to question. We have remained the house that flies nearest the Sun, and we have been gifted. It has steeled us for long nights without its touch. We have a singular purpose now... To discover the dark places and bring the light of understanding to them. In this way we protect our people. In this way we pay homage to the Sun. In this way we draw closer to the spirits.
House Crow's Sorcery
Secrets of the Black Wings
The School of the Black Wing focus on studying sorcery that augments the caster and her allies. They master the effects of Advantage, Trait, and Transform. Through these magics they become as the Crow and other Great Spirits in order to explore, learn, endure, and protect. They take a "breadth" approach to knowledge rather than "depth," choosing to spread their wings across the areas of knowledge and wisdom. They are also the most likely to be seen outside of the Crow's homelands.
Secrets of the Black Talons
Black Talons are the most militant of the sorcerers, often taking on missions to root out hidden dangers and defeat them. They master the effects of Sorcerous Fire, Sorcerous Weapons, and Evoke. They often travel with Black Wings in order to provide support and protection, and they may be bodyguards for Black Eyes in the rare occasions when there are meetings with outsiders. More often than not, each Black Talon will be skilled in both melee and ranged combat skills, as well as stealth and coersion.
Secrets of the Black Eyes
Black Eyed sorcerers are the spiritual guides and leaders of the house, choosing to forego personal power in order to aid and assist others indirectly. Their sorcery focuses on Arcane Knowledge, Arcane Action, and Hinder, making them some of the most capable politicians and leaders in the nation when they are properly prepared. Black Eyes are often skilled in diplomacy, persuasion, and political history, among other social skills.
Secrets of the Trickster
Almost all Crow Sorcerers practice the magic of Illusion. The Crow is a renowned trickster, and thusly most sorcerers are taught some form of Illusion magic. It is perhaps the most flexible of the schools, and aids all Crows in keeping their secrets.